The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-03-19
pIckETT'S MEMORABLE CHARGE.

terry I:idgr-Berinping of tho End
Lees plan was TO attack and pierce the
Federal center at Cemetery Ridge under
the command of Gen. Hancock IL was
an attack such as Napoleon had made sue
cessfully at Wagraui, when Marshal Nc
Donalt. with corps of 10000 men,
pierced the Austrian center and won a
great victory. II was an attack such as
Napoleon had tried with the Old Guard IT
Waterloo against Wellington and had
met with disaster.
by O'Clock Lee found himself in readi
ness to again open the battle For sew
eral hours n dead silence had reigned over
the battle field, when suddenly a cannon
shot, followed at the interval of . minute
by another, proclaims to both armies that
the hour had come for the last and final
struggle for victory The solitary smoke
of these shots was still floating in the air
when the whole Confederate line burst
out in one great roar and blaze Of cannon
aiding. One hundred aud thirty eight
pieces of cannon opened their fiery throats
aAd sent their iron missiles against the
Federal center, to shake ii, to tear IL, to
rend il, il possible. From eighty guns,
well posted on the ridge, the Federals
made reply. For two hours this terrific
storm of shot and shell continued, until
tIlt tilicI u HE
fire, sieemin1 il wise to hold In reserve his
ammunition to meet the infantry charge
which he knew was coming. Meade, also
wishing to provoke the attack, ordered
the firing to cease,
And now the Confederates drew out to
make that final and forever memorable
charge, which ranks among the most re-
markable in the history of battles. The
column numbers ii, 900 men IL they
Ii
against particular point Of the Federal
line they may decide the fate of the battle.
Pickett's division of Virginians, number
ing 4S0b men, is the directing force, and
ON these the greatest reliance is place 4.
Out of the wooded crests on Cemetery
Ridge they march, sweeping into the plain,
a mile in width, they have to cross, with
the micn of cOnquerors and with cou-
rage that has been tested on many battle
fields. Onward they go in double battle
line, not impctuously, not at the double
quick, but with disciplined steadiness, rs
if ON the fell of review. The supporting
columns follow, but not with the steadi-
ness that characterizes Pickett's men.
Now opens the Federal artillery with
all their force upon the assailants, the
solid shot opening great lanes through
the advancing hosts. Still they 90
on, melting away as they go, the musk
etry fire making still GREATER havoc among
them The supporting columns falter,
but Pickett carries his men forward, they
reach the crest OF the hill, but torn and
bleeding and almost destroyed, they are
powerless to strike the blow they came to
give A blasting fire from the Federal
infantry almost annihilated them Out
of eighteen field officers and four generals,
Pickett and one lieutenant colonel alone
remain unframed They throw down
their arms, they fly, and the conflict is al
an end. OF Pickett's magnificent division
alone 3, 500 men have been sacrificed and
twelve stands of colors lost. The losser
in the supporting columns are nearly a.
great
The battle was over. On the crest OF
Cemetery Ridge the southern rebellion
found its high water mark. IL was thu
beginning of the end, but the great army
of Lee was destined to hold at bay for q
long time yet the conquerors at Gettys
burg Into the dispute that Meade should
have made his victory still more decisive
by an advance upon his foe il is not pro
posed To enter. He had repealed the in
vasiOn. Lee with his army retired IL
Virginia again to act on the defensive. and
Meade pursued him In the latter days
of July the Rapidan had become the
dividing line between the opposing armies
Chicago Herald